Stardate: 60333.1350
The Healer, Ensign Elizabeth Hallowell - the HATHOR's Assistant Chief Medical Officer had run every test that she could think of on the Oltharian following his concerns about the effect of the crystals possibly being addictive. Elan had been the only member of the crew to have indulged multiple times in the voyages provided by the archive and although the engineer had felt perfectly fine he still had felt an odd desire to go at it once again once he felt up to it.
"I tell you Elan," Ensign Halliwell repeated as she put her medical tricorder away. "Every scan has come up exactly the same. You are in perfect health and show no negative effects of having touched those two crystals. Your desire to go at it a third time maybe simply be because you are curious about that world's history- or more to the point their legends which you have experienced in a way that is actually hard to explain."
The massive Oltharian smiled and nodded his thanks. "Thank you Healer,
I am grateful for all that you have done for me."
"My pleasure," Liz said, trying her best to hide her blushing cheeks. She had never dealt with an Oltharian before and his uncanny devotion and over-emphasised respect and admiration for anyone in the field of medicine had been something a little odd to get used to. "You have my medical clearance to go and offer your help to Lieutenant Commander Maya once again," the Assistant Chief Medical Officer stated sending a grinning giant on his way.
--==(/\)==--
The Shillian appeared very happy to see the imposing Oltharian return. In order to make sure that everything went well, the Chief Science Officer had delayed touching any of the crystals and she seemed to be enjoying the whole thing vicariously through the gentle giant. "I had Ensign Kea get a few more from crystals from the same section as the others, I mean there are no guarantees that they will be about the world's lores and legends as the others you made a record of, but the odds do seem to point to that possibility."
Elan smiled and nodded his tanks as he accepted the small open box in which one of the crystals had been meticulously placed in. The Oltharian wasted no time and made his way to one of the chairs which had been set on the edge of the room for those who had come to volunteer their time to make a record of the crystal's content and to hopefully gain a better understanding of the people who had send the archive into space.
Setting: USS HATHOR, Sickbay
Stardate: 60333.1400
Setting: USS HATHOR, Storage Bay
{Though Serra has not been seen for twenty years, her Gargoyles still
watch over our city and punish the guilty.}
- Gulsen, Abbey Matron
--==(@)==--
Since the day of their placement on the ramparts and the highest towers, the Abbey Gargoyles have kept a vigilant watch over the city and inhabitants of En-Vec, one of the few remaining location within the realms of Domineria where faith is still more powerful than the strongest steel or the most destructive spell. As old as the city walls, the Gargoyles were carved of the same stones and given the shape that those who remember the stories of old claim was ordered by Serra herself. The stories and legends which speak of these fantastic protectors claim that the stone-made creatures break free from their rocky imprisonment to seek out and punish those who have done wrong or threaten the tranquility of the city.
Within the protected walls of En-Vec it is not uncommon to meet Healers, Clergy and Oracles alongside the Rangers and Paladins who are all loyal to Serra. The warriors often leave the safety of the city to help bring peace to a world in constant turmoil with the blessings of those who remain behind.
Although none have seen the Gargoyles act as they are famed to have for decades, the stories of their dealing swift and immediate justice still hangs on the lips of those they protect. Faith in the unseen ability of these stone figures kept the population safe and has allowed the City of En-Vec to prosper in relative seclusion surrounded by realms enthralled in the midst of countless wars and conflicts.
Those who do not share this faith, such as the Keldons and Legions of Lim'Dul to the south, often claim that it is the protective walls or the presence of countless Defenders within that have kept the city safe over the decades. To those who enjoy this safety though, the beliefs of others is unimportant and their faith in the Abbey Gargoyles and their tremendous fabled powers remains untouched.
One night, while the majority of the Rangers and Paladins had gone to help the Icatian Militia combat a horde of dark creatures sent by the Sengir Overlord, a group of Ravenous Skirges ventured over the walls and into the peaceful streets of En-Vec in search of some food. Being of simple ways and even simpler minds, the legends of the Abbey Gargoyles had meant nothing to the beasts born of the realm's swamps, their hunger being the only thing that ruled their actions.
Scampering about the calm streets, the skirge's gaze never rose to meet the city's guardians who unemotionally watched as the creatures of the night ravaged through the discarded merchandise left behind by the merchants who had closed up shop many hours past. Although acting as a nuisance, the soulless beasts had been no more of a hassle as a pack of rats, creatures which often came out at night to fetch whatever scraps had been left behind. On this night though, the rats had chosen to leave the streets to the wanderings of the city's visitors, not wishing to become part of the menu.
Hours past as the Skirges continued their raid of the city, causing no more noise than the city's inhabitants had been used to for this time of the night. Living amongst the Realms of Domineria meant that many creatures came out at night, but the people living in En-Vec had no fear of them, their faith in the Gargoyles safeguarding their sleep and dreams.
Well before the sun had begun its journey through the sapphire shy which embraced the realms, one young woman came out of her home armed with nothing more than a bucket. Likely the maiden had awakened from her slumber and realised that no fresh water could be found within the walls of her house, so confident that the city had been as safe as it had always been, she ventured towards the nearest well.
Having scrounged for scraps and discarded items for the majority of the night, the Skirges quickly picked up on the new scent which had come to appear in the streets. From every corner of the large city they came, their wings barely making a whisper as they cut through the night's air. So numerous had they been that the young woman would have had to be as tall as a giant to allow each and every creature racing towards her to have a single bite, yet this did not hinder their desire or appetite. By the time the sun would rise over the protective walls of the city, there would be no trace of what would soon take place and the young woman would just be believed to have run away from home.
As the dark gazes of the Skirges fell upon the gentle figure fetching a pail of water, a strange wind swept through the city sending the creatures of the night flying in various directions, away from the well and of the young woman near it.
With her quest now completed, the maiden headed back to her home, not having paid the slightest attention to the breeze that had died down almost as soon as it had come to be. If something had been out there, the young woman believed that the Gargoyles would come to her rescue, or so she hoped and prayed.
By the time she had returned to her home the streets had remained as quiet as they had been when she had stepped out, making her almost wish that there had been a threat to her life if only to be able to see one of the fabled creatures jump down from their ledges to come to her rescue. As she closed and locked the door behind her, the young woman failed to notice a creature hidden in the shadows, its back against the cold stones of the city's streets, its lungs drawing their last breath and its eyes looking up at one of the famed stone-made guardians, never having seen it move but certain that it had smiled as death claimed the Skirge.
--==(/\)==--
The Oltharian looked directly ahead of him as he tried to make sense of the images and emotions that had been made to be his for that short period of time. Be it real or imaginary, the realms of Domineria had so far appeared to be a mystical and enchanted place filled with magical beasts. Although Doctor Halliwell had claimed that the crystals had in no way been addictive, the giant immediately felt the urge to experience another legend, finding each one more intriguing than the previous.
--==(/\)==--
Lieutenant Junior Grade Elan Talak Fairborn 2005 post #595
Stardate: 60333.1415
Setting: USS HATHOR, Storage Bay
Francois Charette {f_charette@hotmail.com}
Robotics Engineering Officer
NEW ALEXANDRIA
&
Chief Engineering Officer
USS HATHOR